Periodontal Disease

A beautiful smile begins with a strong foundation of healthy gums. Early detection and treatment of periodontal disease can help most people to preserve their teeth for a lifetime. Fisher Dental offers a comprehensive periodontal disease prevention and treatment program because a solid foundation of healthy gums is essential to protecting your investment in enhancements such as crowns, bridges, partials, veneers, and professional whitening.

Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the early stage of periodontal disease, when only the soft tissues of the mouth are affected. Plaque buildup leads to tartar and bacteria below the gum-line, which leads to inflamed, irritated, or bleeding gums. The good news is that gingivitis is reversible. A good professional cleaning, followed by regular brushing, flossing, and checkups, restores gums to good health by removing plaque and bacteria.

Periodontitis
Periodontitis is marked by the breakdown of structures that surround, secure, and the support the teeth. These structures include the bone, gums, and fibers which anchor the teeth to the gums. Periodontal disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. Though bone that has been resorbed due to periodontal disease will not grow back, aggressive treatment and impeccable home care will keep it from getting worse.

Diagnosis​
Early stages of gum disease include redness, swelling, or inflammation around the gum-line. If these warning signs appear, your dentist will check for calculus (tartar) below the gum-line. Your dentist or hygienist may use a tool called a probe to test gums for bleeding and measure periodontal pockets. X-rays will be used to evaluate the bone level around your teeth. Though the main cause of gum disease is lack of oral hygiene, contributing factors include heavy smoking and diabetes.​​

Treatments
Gingivitis is easily treated with a professional cleaning (prophy) and proper home care to remove the plaque before it becomes calculus. Contributing factors may be dry mouth (due to medications or medical conditions), braces, mouth-breathing, and many more. We will work together to help you maintain healthy gums.